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Voykit pocket guide · Nigeria
Mile 12
Spend a half‑day at Mile 12 Market for bulk food and spices; no need to stay overnight.
Mile 12 is a commercial hub in Lagos State, best explored in a few hours to browse its huge market and sample local street food. Overnight accommodation is limited, so treat it as a day‑trip from Lagos.
- Country
- Nigeria
- Best months
- Nov–Mar (dry season, cooler temps)
- Avoid
- Apr–Oct (rainy season, heavy traffic)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- NGN
- Money
- Currency is the Nigerian naira (NGN, ₦). Exchange rates have moved sharply; change money only at banks or licensed operators.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₦2,500–₦4,000 excl. bed · Mid ₦4,000–₦7,000 excl. bed · High ₦7,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile; SIM registration needs a passport and NIN-style biometric capture — foreigners register at company offices (check).
- Emergency
- National emergency 112 · Lagos police 767
- Plugs
- Types G, D · 230 V · 50 Hz · Grid power is unreliable; hotels run generators. Bring a power bank.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 5–10% if service is not added.; Driver day: ₦5,000–10,000.; Hotel porter: ₦500–1,000.; Guide: ₦5,000–10,000 per group.; Parking attendant ('agbero' or official): A few hundred naira; only to official attendants.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap. Bottled or sealed sachet water ('pure water') from known brands.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and restaurants; carry tissue and hand sanitiser.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Pepper (kg) at market | ₦500–₦800 |
| Street food plate (e.g., amala & ewedu) | ₦300–₦600 |
| Bottle of water | ₦150–₦250 |
| Bus fare Ketu → Mile 12 | ₦200–₦400 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LOS · Murtala Muhammed International Airport
- about 30 min by road to Mile 12, but traffic can double the time
Typical fares
- Bus Ketu → Mile 12
- about ₦300, 10 min (check)
- Uber Mile 12 → Lagos centre
- about ₦3,500, 20 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Take a bus from Ketu or an Uber (expensive). Within Mile 12 use minibuses (‘Korope’); motorbikes are banned.
See and do
Known for
- Mile 12 International Market
- Wholesale pepper and spices
- Local eateries and bars
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ketu | Bus from Mile 12 market area, about 10 min | ≈15 min |
| Isolo | Minibus from market, about 12 min | ≈20 min |
Sleep
- Lagos hotels (Victoria Island or Ikeja)
- Closest accommodation; 15–30 min by road to Mile 12.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Ego na nke a?Ego na nke a? |
| I would like a plate of amala | Biko, mee m amalaBiko, mee m amala |
| Where is the market? | Ebe ahịa dị?Ebe ahịa dị? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Greet with a handshake and a question about family; Yoruba juniors may bow or kneel to elders; avoid: Rushing to business
- Titles: Use Sir, Ma, Chief, Alhaji; avoid: First names with older people
- Hands: Right hand to give, receive and eat; avoid: The left hand for money or food
- Dress: Smart clothes for churches, offices and events; modest dress in the north; avoid: Shorts in the north
- Hospitality: Accept food or drink offered; avoid: Flat refusals
- Photos: Ask first; avoid: Police, soldiers, airports, government buildings
Scams and watch-outs
- Food safety: street food can cause food‑poisoning; choose busy stalls.
- Traffic congestion can add 30 min–1 h to travel time.
- No bike (okada) service allowed in the area.
Mile 12 is generally safe during daylight; stay alert to traffic, avoid isolated stalls after dark, and keep valuables hidden.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mile 12 yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mile 12 International Market
- Wholesale pepper and spices
- Local eateries and bars
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Mile 12, revision 4430941 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4430941
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mile-12). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.